Mary Alice Strecker passed away on August 11 in Urbandale, Iowa, surrounded by her children. She was born April 14, 1932, to Charles and Eva (Eisentrager) Fitzgerald in George, Iowa where she lived until high school graduation. She earned a teaching certificate at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she met and married William Perry in 1951. They and their children, Jennifer, Elizabeth and John lived in several towns in South Dakota and Iowa.
In 1973 Mary married Rev. Kenneth Strecker. After serving churches in Georgia and Tennessee they settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She had deep conviction to social justice demonstrated in her work and daily interactions. She enjoyed her work with the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee for several years where she directed the Greater Milwaukee Crop Walk and Older Adult Programs. Their love of travel took Mary and Ken throughout the United States and to Great Britain, Japan and Italy.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, her husband Kenneth, and stepson Stephen Strecker. She is survived by her children and their spouses Jennifer and Richard Early, Elizabeth and James Wymore, and John and Laurie Perry. Grandchildren are Kate Blader, Martha Early, Alex Rausch, Sam Early, Lauren Lester, David Perry, and Seth Perry, and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Karen Metzgar, stepdaughter Mary Husar and step-granddaughters Billie, Corrine, and Camden Douglass.
A memorial service is planned on August 26, 2023, at 1 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa. In lieu of flowers or gifts, we would ask that remembrances be expressed through donations to a local food ministry of your choice.
